Compare towns
Jay vs Castleton vs Hampton vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
West Fairlee has the highest household income ($77k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Jay | Castleton | Hampton | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,145 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Jay and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$76,500±$16kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$5,210Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.